St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara made a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners during the first reading of their proposed budget Thursday, asking that he get an additional $6.2 million next year for raises, insurance reserves and needed equipment.WATCH THE REPORT"We are losing great deputies to other departments. It's the first time in my 15 years as sheriff that we're experiencing this and if they don't get their raises this exodus is going to continue and next year we're going to be asking for new positions and their raises," said Mascara after the meeting.Mascara said over the past eight years, his 650 employees got no raises for four years, and then 3 percent raises the last three years. He would like to give them step raises, which includes a 5 percent increase for newer employees."I think the board has been able to provide 3 percent raises over the past three years and I think given our economic times, that’s been outstanding," said county administrator Howard Tipton.Tipton said the county has experienced only minimal growth and they are trying to avoid raising taxes. He said they are asking all departments to stay flat in their proposed budgets.Mascara said his $66 million dollar budget this year is only $2 million more than it was in 2008, and it's time to catch up."Pay us now or pay us later," he said, referring to having to hire new deputies if current employees quit.Tipton said employees quitting for more lucrative salaries happens in other departments too."We train folks to be mechanics or air-conditioning specialists and they get their certifications and are hired away to the private sector - it happens all the time," he said."We train folks to be mechanics or air-conditioning specialists and they get their certifications and are hired away to the private sector - it happens all the time," he said.Follow Terri on Twitter | Like Terri on Facebook

FORT PIERCE, Fla. —

St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara made a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners during the first reading of their proposed budget Thursday, asking that he get an additional $6.2 million next year for raises, insurance reserves and needed equipment.

"We are losing great deputies to other departments. It's the first time in my 15 years as sheriff that we're experiencing this and if they don't get their raises this exodus is going to continue and next year we're going to be asking for new positions and their raises," said Mascara after the meeting.

Mascara said over the past eight years, his 650 employees got no raises for four years, and then 3 percent raises the last three years. He would like to give them step raises, which includes a 5 percent increase for newer employees.

"I think the board has been able to provide 3 percent raises over the past three years and I think given our economic times, that’s been outstanding," said county administrator Howard Tipton.

Tipton said the county has experienced only minimal growth and they are trying to avoid raising taxes. He said they are asking all departments to stay flat in their proposed budgets.

Mascara said his $66 million dollar budget this year is only $2 million more than it was in 2008, and it's time to catch up.

"Pay us now or pay us later," he said, referring to having to hire new deputies if current employees quit.

Tipton said employees quitting for more lucrative salaries happens in other departments too.

"We train folks to be mechanics or air-conditioning specialists and they get their certifications and are hired away to the private sector - it happens all the time," he said.

"We train folks to be mechanics or air-conditioning specialists and they get their certifications and are hired away to the private sector - it happens all the time," he said.